Special Needs Scholarships
Now Accepting Applications for the 2023-24 School Year
Scholarship applications for the 2023-24 school year
Please be advised that while the application portal is still open for new applicants, Children First Education Fund has awarded all the funds that have been raised to date. New applicants will be added to a waiting list, and parents will be notified if and when more funds are available and additional scholarships can be awarded. We encourage parents to apply and hold your place in the queue but know that applications will not be reviewed until after January 1, pending funding availability. As funds become available, scholarships will be awarded based upon the order applications are received and approved. For private school applicants, we recommend applying to the Carson Smith scholarship program.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Funds for additional scholarships are generated by donations from individuals and businesses. All donations are eligible for a 100% Utah State income tax credit. Anyone who pays state income taxes is able to donate and receive the tax credit. So to help our funds to grow, please consider donating and sharing this information with others who might be interested in receiving a tax credit for their donation. Donations can be made online at www.cfe-fund/donate.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a scholarship under the Utah Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Act, a student must meet all of the following requirements:
1.The student and the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian must reside within the State of Utah.
2.The student must have a qualifying disability as defined under the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The disability must be verified within the prior 12 months by either an Individual Education Plan (IEP) from a public school, or a multidisciplinary team evaluation (MDT).
3.The student must be eligible to participate in public school in kindergarten or grades 1 through 12.
4.The student must not be attending public or charter school when the scholarship is awarded. An application can be submitted while a student is enrolled in public school, but before the award can be received, the student must have unenrolled from public school and have been accepted at a private school or declared to be homeschooled.
5.The student cannot receive the Carson Smith Scholarship in the same school year of this scholarship.
Have additional questions? Please review our comprehensive guide to the CFE Fund scholarship application process below.
Participating Private Schools
CFEF is currently partnered with over 30 schools across the state that have been approved by the Utah State School Board (USBE) to receive students awarded with the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship.
Scholarship Award Estimates
CFEF approved applicant scholarship amounts are awarded based on financial need. To learn more about award amounts, click below to view our complete award estimates.
